New trial date scheduled for alleged Bellaire murderer
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - A new trial date has been set for Sandton Browder, who is accused of shooting and killing another man in January.
Browder’s trial is now scheduled for Jan. 12, 2027, in Belmont County Common Pleas Court, following a hearing Monday morning. Browder is currently being held in the Belmont County Jail on $3 million bond on one charge of murder and one charge of having a weapon while under disability.
On Jan. 15, the 23-year-old Virginia native allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old Jordan Dean of North Carolina at a Bellaire home. He appeared before Common Pleas Court judge Christopher Berhalter on Monday morning.
Browder's lawyer, Belmont County public defender Aaron Miller, recently filed a motion for the original trial date of Aug. 18 to be continued.
Berhalter asked both Miller and Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan before the pre-trial hearing on Monday to consult with their expert witnesses to confirm if they would be available for a trial date of Jan. 12. Flanagan replied that this particular case will have a traveling pathologist from Licking County but he believes that they will be available to testify on Jan. 12.
Berhalter then set a trial date of Jan. 12 at 8:30 a.m. in the Common Pleas Court.
He then asked Flanagan if there were any discovery issues that needed to be addressed.
Flanagan replied that there was no new discovery, but the state has physical evidence that has already been made available to Miller.
"He [Miller] asked that the evidence be photographed individually. The court asked if we would make that available and we did," Flanagan said. "He does have those photos they went over to him, but otherwise, Judge, all other discoveries have been provided."
Berhalter then asked Miller if there was anything discovery wise that he needed from the state to which Miller said no.
Berhalter then set a plea agreement deadline for Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. The next pre-trial hearing in the case is schedule Sep. 21 in front of Berhalter in Common Pleas Court.